Ronna Romney McDaniel, a prominent figure in the Republican Party, served as the chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2017 to 2024. Prior to her national role, she held the position of chair for the Michigan Republican Party from 2015 to 2017. McDaniel, a member of the Romney family, is known for her work as an American political strategist.
1970: Ronna McDaniel's Grandmother Runs for U.S. Senate
Ronna McDaniel's grandmother, Lenore Romney, ran for the U.S. Senate in 1970.
March 20, 1973: Ronna Romney McDaniel is Born
Ronna Romney McDaniel was born on March 20, 1973, in Austin, Texas.
1988: Ronna McDaniel's Mother Serves as Delegate to RNC
Ronna McDaniel's mother served as a delegate to the 1988 Republican National Convention.
1996: Ronna McDaniel's Mother Runs for U.S. Senate
Ronna McDaniel's mother, Ronna Stern Romney, ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996.
2012: McDaniel Works on Mitt Romney's Presidential Campaign
Ronna McDaniel worked in Michigan for her uncle Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign.
2014: McDaniel Elected Michigan's Representative to RNC
Ronna McDaniel was elected as Michigan's representative to the Republican National Committee (RNC) in 2014.
February 2015: McDaniel Elected Michigan Republican Party Chair
Ronna McDaniel was elected chair of the Michigan Republican Party at the party's convention in February 2015, succeeding Bobby Schostak.
2015: McDaniel Runs for Michigan Republican Party Chairmanship
In 2015, Ronna McDaniel ran for the position of Chair of the Michigan Republican Party.
2015: Ronna McDaniel Becomes Michigan Republican Party Chair
Ronna McDaniel was elected chair of the Michigan Republican Party in 2015.
November 13, 2016: Reince Priebus Announced as White House Chief of Staff
On November 13, 2016, Reince Priebus, the then-chairman of the RNC, was announced as the new White House Chief of Staff, creating an open seat election for the RNC chairmanship.
December 14, 2016: Trump Recommends McDaniel to Replace Priebus
On December 14, 2016, then-President-elect Donald Trump chose Ronna McDaniel as his recommendation to replace Reince Priebus as RNC chair.
2016: McDaniel Serves as Delegate for Trump at RNC
Ronna McDaniel served as a delegate for Donald Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention.
January 19, 2017: McDaniel Officially Elected as RNC Chair
Ronna McDaniel was officially elected as the chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) on January 19, 2017. She became the second woman in RNC history to hold the post.
October 2017: McDaniel Calls for Return of Harvey Weinstein's Donations
In October 2017, following accusations of sexual abuse against Harvey Weinstein, a prominent Democratic donor, Ronna McDaniel demanded the return of his contributions, citing the need for ethical financial practices.
December 2017: RNC Resumes Funding for Roy Moore after Trump Endorsement
In December 2017, despite private reservations, Ronna McDaniel resumed RNC funding for Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore after receiving pressure from the White House following President Trump's endorsement. This move reportedly caused internal conflict for McDaniel, who was obligated to follow Trump's wishes.
2017: Ronna McDaniel Becomes RNC Chair
Ronna McDaniel was elected as the chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) in 2017.
January 2018: RNC Holds Significant Financial Advantage
By January 2018, the RNC, under McDaniel's leadership, had amassed a significant financial advantage heading into the 2018 midterm elections, with almost $40 million compared to the Democratic National Committee's $6.3 million.
January 2018: McDaniel Faces Pressure to Return Steve Wynn's Donations
In January 2018, Ronna McDaniel faced pressure to return donations from RNC finance chair Steve Wynn after he was accused of sexual misconduct. Unlike her stance on Weinstein, McDaniel defended Wynn's right to "due process" and stated that donations would be returned only after an investigation by Wynn Resorts.
April 2018: Ronna McDaniel Praises Trump as "Moral Leader"
In April 2018, Ronna McDaniel publicly praised President Donald Trump as a "moral leader." This statement reflects her strong alignment with Trump and his policies, which characterized her leadership of the RNC.
April 2018: RNC Attacks Former FBI Director James Comey
In April 2018, under Ronna McDaniel's leadership, the Republican National Committee launched a website criticizing former FBI Director James Comey, labeling him "Lyin' Comey" and accusing him of being a liar and a leaker.
July 2018: McDaniel Falsely Accuses Twitter of Shadow Banning Republicans
In July 2018, Ronna McDaniel made unsubstantiated claims that Twitter was shadow banning Republicans, including herself. However, Twitter clarified that there was a glitch affecting the visibility of several prominent accounts, both conservative and liberal, in search results, and promised to rectify the issue.
November 2018: McDaniel Pressures Martha McSally in Arizona Senate Race Ballot Counting
In November 2018, Politico reported that Ronna McDaniel urged Republican Senate candidate Martha McSally to be more assertive during the ballot counting process in the closely contested Arizona Senate race, which remained undecided for several days after the election.
2018: RNC Runs Ads for Trump's 2020 Campaign
Under McDaniel's leadership, the RNC began running ads for Trump's 2020 campaign as early as 2018.
January 2019: McDaniel Criticizes Uncle Mitt Romney's Editorial on Trump
In January 2019, Ronna McDaniel publicly criticized an editorial written by her uncle, Mitt Romney, for The Washington Post that challenged President Trump's moral character. McDaniel stated that the editorial was "disappointing and unproductive."
March 2019: Prioritizing Political Alignment over Morality
In March 2019, Ronna McDaniel made a statement highlighting her prioritization of political alignment over moral character, stating she wouldn't support even the most moral person if their politics didn't align with hers.
May 2019: McDaniel Criticizes Justin Amash for Calling for Trump's Impeachment
In May 2019, Ronna McDaniel criticized Republican House Representative Justin Amash after he became the first in his party to call for President Trump's impeachment. She accused Amash of "parroting the Democrats' talking points on Russia" and implied support for a primary challenge against him.
May 2019: RNC Retains Steve Wynn's Donations Despite Allegations
By May 2019, despite ongoing sexual misconduct allegations against Steve Wynn, the RNC had not returned his substantial donations. This contrasted with their response to similar allegations against Harvey Weinstein and raised questions about the RNC's commitment to ethical fundraising practices under McDaniel's leadership.
September 2019: McDaniel's Email to Doug Manchester Raises Concerns of "Pay-for-Play"
In September 2019, an email from Ronna McDaniel to Doug Manchester requesting $500,000 in donations to the Republican Party while his ambassadorship nomination was stalled in the Senate sparked allegations of a "pay-for-play" scheme. Manchester's response, copied to key senators, further fueled these suspicions.
2019: McDaniel Re-elected as RNC Chair
Ronna McDaniel was re-elected as RNC Chair in a unanimous election in 2019 with the endorsement of Donald Trump.
February 2020: Trump Downplays Severity of Coronavirus
In February 2020, audio recordings revealed President Trump admitting to intentionally downplaying the severity of the coronavirus pandemic. This information became public later in the year, prompting a defensive response from McDaniel.
May 13, 2020: ProPublica Reports on RNC Contracts Awarded to Companies Connected to McDaniel
On May 13, 2020, ProPublica published a report alleging that Ronna McDaniel had directed large Republican National Committee contracts to businesses with close ties to her, including her husband's company and companies that had supported her 2015 campaign for the Michigan Republican Party chairmanship.
May 2020: RNC Opposes Efforts to Expand Vote-by-Mail
In May 2020, the RNC, led by Ronna McDaniel, allocated $20 million to fight against Democratic lawsuits aimed at expanding vote-by-mail during the coronavirus pandemic. McDaniel accused Democrats of trying to undermine election integrity, citing concerns about potential fraud despite expert opinions suggesting otherwise.
June 2020: RNC Shares Misleading Video About Voter Fraud
In June 2020, Ronna McDaniel shared a video from the RNC that raised concerns about potential voter fraud due to the expansion of vote-by-mail prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. Fact-checkers criticized the video for distorting facts and creating a misleading narrative about election security.
September 2020: McDaniel Defends Trump's Handling of the Coronavirus Pandemic
In September 2020, Ronna McDaniel defended President Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, stating that "history will look back on him well as how he handled this pandemic." This occurred despite the release of audio recordings where Trump admitted to downplaying the virus's severity in February 2020.
2020: McDaniel Promotes Falsehoods about 2020 Election
After Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election, Ronna McDaniel made unsubstantiated claims about electoral and voter fraud. The RNC, under her leadership, promoted falsehoods and conspiracy theories about the election despite no evidence of widespread issues.
2020: McDaniel and the RNC Make Claims of Voter Fraud
Following Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election, Ronna McDaniel and the RNC made claims of voter fraud.
2020: McDaniel Makes False Statements about the 2020 Election
In 2020, Ronna McDaniel made a number of false statements about the 2020 election, leading to criticism for undermining journalism and attacking journalistic integrity.
2020: Federal Investigation into Manchester's Nomination Begins
In 2020, a federal investigation was launched concerning Doug Manchester's nomination as ambassador. The investigation explored potential impropriety related to campaign contributions and possible connections to Ronna McDaniel and the RNC.
2020: McDaniel Supports Trump's 2020 Campaign
Ronna McDaniel and the RNC supported Donald Trump's 2020 campaign, including running ads and placing campaign workers on the RNC payroll.
2020: RNC's Strong Support for Trump's 2020 Campaign
Throughout 2020, under McDaniel's leadership, the RNC consistently promoted President Trump and his policies, running ads as early as 2018. They staffed the RNC with Trump campaign workers, spent funds at Trump-owned properties, covered his legal fees, hosted his "Fake News Awards," and criticized his detractors within the Republican party.
January 2021: Trump Endorses McDaniel for RNC Chair Despite Election Fraud Claims
Despite promoting falsehoods about the 2020 election, Ronna McDaniel received an endorsement from President Trump to continue leading the RNC in the January 2021 RNC chairman election, highlighting his continued support for her leadership.
May 2021: Federal Grand Jury Investigates Manchester's Nomination
In May 2021, news broke that a federal grand jury had subpoenaed records related to Doug Manchester's ambassadorship nomination. The investigation, initiated in 2020, reportedly focused on potential misconduct by the RNC, Ronna McDaniel, and other party officials, including possible connections to Manchester's campaign contributions.
November 2021: RNC Continues Covering Trump's Legal Fees
By November 2021, the RNC, under Ronna McDaniel's leadership, was still covering former President Trump's legal fees related to investigations into his financial practices in New York, demonstrating continued support even after he left office.
2021: McDaniel Re-elected as RNC Chair for a Third Term
Ronna McDaniel was re-elected as RNC Chair for a third term in a unanimous election in 2021, again with Donald Trump's endorsement.
2021: RNC Pride Coalition Launch and Subsequent Backlash
In 2021, Ronna McDaniel announced the creation of the RNC Pride Coalition with the Log Cabin Republicans, a group of LGBTQ Republicans. This initiative was met with backlash from social conservatives, leading to apologies for lack of prior communication and clarifications about the GOP's stance on same-sex marriage. The RNC maintained that the coalition doesn't change their platform on the issue.
December 2022: Axios Reports on McDaniel's Election Cycle Performance
In December 2022, Axios reported that Ronna McDaniel had not presided over a single positive election cycle during her time as RNC Chair.
2022: McDaniel Leads Effort to Censure Cheney and Kinzinger
In 2022, Ronna McDaniel orchestrated a censure within the RNC against Republican Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for their votes to impeach President Trump over his role in the U.S. Capitol attack and their participation in the related investigation. This move reflected the increasing polarization within the Republican Party regarding Trump's actions and legacy.
2022: McDaniel Orchestrates Censure of Cheney and Kinzinger
In 2022, Ronna McDaniel orchestrated the censure of Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, the two Republicans who served on the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. The censure controversially characterized the violent pro-Trump mob as having engaged in "legitimate political discourse".
2022: Absence of LGBT Pride Month Statement
In 2022, following the backlash received in 2021 for the RNC Pride Coalition, Ronna McDaniel did not issue a statement in support of LGBT Pride Month, a departure from her statement the previous year.
January 27, 2023: McDaniel Re-elected for a Fourth Term as RNC Chair
Ronna McDaniel was re-elected to a fourth term as RNC Chair on January 27, 2023, overcoming challenges from Harmeet Dhillon and Mike Lindell.
2023: Continued Absence of LGBT Pride Month Statement
As in 2022, Ronna McDaniel again chose not to release a statement regarding LGBT Pride Month in 2023. This continued silence on the issue suggests an ongoing sensitivity to the backlash from social conservatives.
February 6, 2024: Reports Surface of McDaniel's Intended Resignation
On February 6, 2024, The New York Times reported that Ronna McDaniel intended to resign as RNC chair after the South Carolina Republican presidential primary due to dissatisfaction from Donald Trump.
February 26, 2024: McDaniel Announces Resignation as RNC Chair
On February 26, 2024, Ronna McDaniel announced her resignation as RNC chair, following advice from Donald Trump after his victory in the 2024 South Carolina Republican presidential primary.
March 8, 2024: McDaniel's Tenure as RNC Chair Ends
Ronna McDaniel's term as RNC Chair ended on March 8, 2024, marking the end of her tenure as the longest-serving RNC chair since the Civil War.
March 2024: McDaniel Briefly Works as NBC News Contributor
In March 2024, Ronna McDaniel briefly served as an on-air political contributor for NBC News after resigning as RNC Chair.
March 22, 2024: NBC News Hires and Then Parts Ways with McDaniel as a Contributor
On March 22, 2024, NBC News initially announced the hiring of Ronna McDaniel as a contributor, but faced significant backlash from several of its hosts due to her past dissemination of false information regarding the 2020 election, including instances of undermining journalism and attacking journalistic integrity. Consequently, NBC News reversed its decision within days and severed ties with McDaniel.
2024: Ronna McDaniel Resigns as RNC Chair
Ronna McDaniel resigned from her position as chair of the RNC in 2024.